Brevard pauses to remember victims of 9/11
Friday, September 12, 2008
September 12, 2008
Brevard pauses to remember victims of 9/11
Veterans, residents gather at memorial ceremonies
BY R. NORMAN MOODY
FLORIDA TODAY
The horrors of 9/11 remain vivid in the minds of many Americans. So on Thursday, the seventh anniversary of the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil, local residents joined with others around the nation at events honoring the memories of those who died that morning.
More than 200 veterans, residents and visitors took part in a remembrance ceremony at Rockledge Veterans of Foreign Wars Rocket Post 4534.
Others gathered at the American Legion Challenger 7 Post in Cape Canaveral and at a prayer service at the Historic Brevard County Courthouse in Titusville to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11.
Cathy Quigley was at the Rockledge ceremony to honor her cousin Vincent Kane, a 37-year-old New York City firefighter who died at the World Trade Center, and to pay respect to the other victims.
“He went to work on his day off and didn’t come home,” said Quigley, a Rockledge resident. “We like to remember those who served our country.”
Motorcyclists with Rolling Thunder, a group that works to bring awareness to the issues of prisoners of war and those missing in action, escorted The 9/11 Moving Tribute, 4-foot-tall panels bearing the names of the victims. The motorcade started near the Pineda Causeway and ended at the VFW in Rockledge, where the panels will remain on display through Saturday, when another remembrance ceremony will be held at noon.
Thursday, veterans groups laid wreaths in remembrance of the victims.
State Sen. Bill Posey, whose father, Walter Posey, once was the commander of Post 4534, told the crowd they must remember all the victims and keep in mind that the United States still is at war.
“Our strength as a nation continues to stand as a beacon for many,” the Rockledge Republican said.
Brevard County Commissioner Jackie Colon, who had been in New York the weekend before the attacks and had returned home the day before, told of her experience.
“I lost a lot of friends on Sept. 11,” Colon said, her voice quivering. “Sept. 11 is extremely hard for me. Today is very important because I don’t want anyone to forget.”
Jim Moyer, a member of Rolling Thunder, said he appreciated Colon’s words.
“We must not forget,” he said. “I think that’s the reason we are all here.”
Bruce Noll, who lives in Binghamton, N.Y., was in Brevard County on Thursday, heard about the ceremony and decided to attend.
“This is how I pay my respects for the people who gave up their lives for us,” he said.
About 30 retired New York firefighters gathered Thursday near the flagpole at Palm Bay Fire-Rescue Station 90 to hold a brief salute to 343 first responders killed during the Sept. 11 attacks.
“They lost their lives to perform the job they were called to do,” said LeRoy Haynes, president of the local New York Fire Department retiree association.
The association presented to Palm Bay firefighters a large plaque displaying photos of firefighters killedin the attack.
“We just wanted to thank them for remembering our fallen,” Haynes said.
In Titusville, about 40 people gathered in front of the Historic Titusville Courthouse for prayer, citing Sept. 11 as a “wake-up call” for the United States to return to its spiritual roots.
The group joined 17 others at courthouses across Florida as part of Cry Out America!, a nationwide effort aimed at remembering those who died on 9/11 as well as pray for spiritual awakening as the nation undergoes a “spiritual and moral crisis.” They read passages from psalms and sang patriotic songs, and some preachers and evangelists led the group in prayer.
Ty Epling, an evangelist from Titusville, said “(God) does forgive sin, and he will do that for America.”
Staff writers J.D. Gallop and Jessica Raynor contributed to this story. Contact Moody at 242-3651 or .
